Movies
Zee Tunes In for Vijay’s Swan Song as Jana Nayagan Goes Prime Time
MUMBAI: Curtain calls rarely come this loud. Zee Tamil is turning up the volume on Tamil cinema emotion by acquiring the satellite television rights of Jana Nayagan, the much-anticipated action thriller starring Vijay, and backing it with exclusive broadcast rights to what is shaping up to be a once-in-a-generation audio launch.
The Jana Nayagan Audio Launch will unfold on a grand, international canvas at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia, on December 27, with an expected crowd of over 75,000 fans. Zee Tamil will beam the six-hour spectacle on January 4, airing from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm, with simultaneous streaming on Zee5 Tamil making it one of the longest and most ambitious audio launch telecasts in Tamil cinema.
This is no routine music reveal. Widely seen as Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan has turned the audio launch into an emotional full stop, part celebration, part farewell. Industry watchers are already calling it a high-impact broadcast moment, blending nostalgia, fan devotion and blockbuster scale into a single, appointment-viewing property.
The evening’s line-up mirrors its significance. From an “Eternal Musical Salute” tracing Vijay’s cinematic journey to DJ-led segments, cast and crew appearances, and tributes from leading directors, the flow builds towards the most awaited moment, Vijay’s own on-stage address. A live performance by Anirudh Ravichander adds to the sonic weight of the night, alongside speeches from the film’s key collaborators and producer.
For Zee, the play is as strategic as it is sentimental. A packed stadium in Malaysia, a multi-hour primetime television slot and a digital simulcast together create a rare convergence of scale, emotion and reach the kind of tentpole event that drives ratings, streaming traffic and advertiser interest in equal measure.
As Jana Nayagan readies itself to bow out with a flourish, Zee Tamil has ensured that Vijay’s final chapter is not just watched, but witnessed live, loud and across screens everywhere.
Hollywood
Trump invested over $1.1m in Netflix bonds at the peak of Warner Bros bidding battle
Financial disclosures show U.S. president also bought Warner Bros Discovery debt during high-stakes media takeover race.
WASHINGTON: New government financial disclosures show that U.S. president Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of bonds issued by Netflix over the past three months. The transactions occurred during a period when Netflix was engaged in a competitive bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, a potential merger that the Trump administration had publicly criticised on antitrust grounds.
Between December and January, the president acquired Netflix bonds valued between $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The bonds carry a 5.375 per cent interest rate and are scheduled to mature in November 2029. Financial disclosures also revealed an additional investment in Warner Bros Discovery bonds. The purchase was valued between $500,002 and $1 million, with the debt reportedly bought at roughly 92 cents on the dollar. The bonds are now trading at around 95 cents on the dollar, leaving the position currently in profit.
The timing of the investments has drawn scrutiny because the administration had been openly critical of Netflix’s market activities at the time. While the president’s trust was purchasing the debt, the administration reportedly pressured Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice and expressed concerns that a Netflix–Warner merger could harm competition.
The White House has dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns, stating that the president’s assets are managed independently by his children. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said U.S. presidents are legally exempt from the conflict-of-interest laws that apply to other federal officials.
Despite the financial interest, Netflix ultimately lost the race to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount Skydance secured the deal on 27 February with a $110 billion offer. The acquisition was backed by Larry Ellison, who guaranteed $40 billion to support the bid, while major lenders including Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo Global Management provided $39 billion in financing.
The final acquisition leaves the combined Paramount entity carrying roughly $85 billion in debt, while Netflix withdrew its bid roughly two weeks before the official disclosure report was released.
